Auxiliary oven for a range



Aug. 28, 1962 v. c. RICE 3,

AUXILIARY OVEN FOR A RANGE Filed Sept. 21, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 28, 1962 v. 0. RICE AUXILIARY OVEN FOR A RANGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 1959 fnverzfr': Vigil C. fiz'ce Aug. 28, 1962 v. c. RICE AUXILIARY OVEN FOR A RANGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 21, 1959 Aug. 28, 1962 v. c. RICE AUXILIARY OVEN FOR A RANGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 21, 1959 [7LZ/6'7Zf07" Virgil C. Hzlc'e Aug. 28, 1962 v. c. RICE AUXILIARY OVEN FOR A RANGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 21, 1959 jrzz/ezzl or'" Virgil C. fice 1V m% m w I! A NQ. i1 l1 hu n 3:; 1 m S\ United States Patent 3,051,157 AUXILIARY OVEN FOR A GE Virgil C. Rice, South Bend, Ind., assiguor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 841,205 27 Claims. (Cl. 126-49) This invention relates to ranges and more particularly to an oven arrangement for ranges.

Ranges conventionally embody ovens of large capacity for primarily roasting or baking considerable amounts of foods for which purposes they are admirably adapted. It has been found that, with the advent and rapid growth of the development of frozen foods, a definite and increasing trend is directed to the supply of frozen food packages, and particularly individual dinners containing a meat, potatoes, and a Vegetable, which requires only the placement and heating of the packaged food in the oven to provide a satisfactory and complete meal. In such case, and also when it is desired to heat small quantities of food, such as buns, etc. in the conventional oven and for possible use with foods of the salad variety or with foods requiring cooking on the surface heaters or burners of the ranges, it is, of course, necessary to heat the oven to a satisfactory temperature to cook the dinners or such small food quantities with the result that the large capacity of the oven is never fully utilized, nor the heating necessary for this purpose is economically justified. In addition, the required heating, satisfactorily utilized for this purpose, causes the room, in which the range is located, to become uncomfortable on hot days when high outside temperatures prevail and which may frequently, due to the discomfort involved, discourage the use of the range oven. While it is necessary to retain the primary oven for general roasting and baking purposes, it will be clearly apparent that a definite need exists for an improved auxiliary oven of smaller capacity capable of heating foods, such as individual dinners, and small quantities of foods such as the baking of pies and buns or for merely warming purposes; and for the provision of an improved storage arrangement for the auxiliary oven when not in use.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved auxiliary oven for ranges and improved arrangement of means for storing the auxiliary oven when not in use, which means forms a permanent part of the backguard of the main cooking range cabinet.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved collapsible or telescopable auxiliary oven construction for cooking ranges wherein the auxiliary oven is adapted to be stored in a novel and improved storage compartment formed in the backguard of the cooking range when telescoped or collapsed and wherein the oven is adapted for ready withdrawal from said special storage compartment and positioned on the usual heating element presented through an opening in the top of the range.

Another object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary oven for ranges as described and having an attractive and ornamental wall section forming a portion of the front panel of the range backguard during oven storage in the backguard.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred forms of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a range "ice illustrating an auxiliary oven positioned within a storage compartment in the range backguard and adjacent a surface heater in the top of the range;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front face view of the range backguard with the auxiliary oven in the storage compartment of the backguard;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the auxiliary oven in operative position above the surface heater in the range top, after withdrawal from the backguard storage compartment;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view iilustratin the formation of the auxiliary oven structure for supporting racks within the oven;

FIG. 6 is a modification of the invention showing a front face view of the auxiliary oven disposed in the backguard of a range, and taken on line 65 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 7, but illustrating the oven in operative position above a surface heater on the top of the range;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8, and illustrating means for maintaining the oven in assembled operative relation and providing supports for the racks in the oven;

FIG. 10 is another modification of the invention and illustrates a sectional view of the auxiliary oven disposed within the range backguard;

FIG. 11 is a View similar to FIG. 10 but illustrating the oven in operative relation above a surface burner in the top of the range;

FIG. 12 illustrates another modification of the invention and is a sectional view of the auxiliary oven removed from the backguard storage compartment and in operative position above a surface heater on the top of the range;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating the range backguard and oven shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the oven being withdrawn from the backguard compartment and just prior to expansion of the oven for disposition above the surface heater of the range as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

FIG. 15 illustrates another modification of the invention and is a sectional view of the auxiliary oven within the backguard compartment;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view illustrating the auxiliary oven shown in FIG. 15 in expanded operative position above a surface heater in the top of the range, said section being taken on line 16-16 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is a front view partly in section showing the auxiliary oven in its folded condition and prior to being lowered into the backguard.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an electric range 10 having a backguard 11, and a door 12 closing the access opening of the conventional large capacity oven in the main body portion of the range and disposed below the flat top 13 in which are mounted surface heater elements of the usual form, one of the heater elements being indicated at 14 disposed adjacent but forward of the backguard 11 which extends upwardly of the top surface 13 and which backguard is adapted to carry the usual manually settable temperature control and timing devices (not shown) in its forward panel.

The surface heater '14 comprises a heating element adapted to be supported by the top of the range in a manner well known in the art and is provided with a temperature responsive control which may be of the type illustrated and described in US. Patent 2,833,895 issued May 6, 1958.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the range backguard 11 is formed or constructed to provide a storage compartment of suflicient depth and width to completely receive an auxiliary oven assembly generally indicated 16. This auxiliary oven comprises a plurality of sections relatively movable into collapsible relation for storage in the backguard compartment as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and movable to an expanded relation upon withdrawal from the compartment, to an operative position above and in suspended relation with the upper surface of heater element 14. More particular ly, the backguard 11 may be of hollow, box-like form and preferably, but not necessarily, a unitary structure with the top 13 of the range as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The backguard '11 includes a front panel :17, a side panel 18 and a top panel 19 and a bottom wall 20 provided by an extension of the top 13 of the range. The hollow backguard provides a compartment for storage of the auxiliary telescopable or collapsible oven cabinet 16. For this purpose, a portion of the front panel 17, adjacent the surface heater 14, is provided with a rectangular or square opening giving access to a storage compartment 17b defined by the inside faces of rear wall 11, top and bottom walls 19, 20 and end wall 18. It will be noted that the door 21 completely fills the opening in the front panel 17 and is flush with the panel 17 to provide a neat and attractive appearance. The oven wall 21 functions as a door, thus performing two functions, namely as a closure for opening 17a when the oven is telescoped or collapsed in stored position in chamber 17b and as an oven door when the oven assembly is withdrawn and being used as an oven proper.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4 for a description of the structure of the auxiliary oven 16, the oven comprises an assembly of square telescopic sections 22, 23 and 24 each having top, bottom and side walls and which sections are of gradually increasing volume for telescoped relation within the backguard 11 as shown in FIG. 3. The wall section or door 21 is hingedly connected at 25 to one edge of top wall of the section 22 with the opposite lower edge of the bottom wall of the section 22 having an upwardly extending flange 26 engaging a rdtatable latch 27 for securely holding the wall section or door 21 in closed position. It will be observed that rotation of the knob of the latch 27 will cause the latch to release its engagement with the flange 26 of the section 22 to permit upward swinging movement of the door 21 about the hinge 25.

When it is desired to expand the collapsed oven assembly for positioning above the surface heating element 14, the telescoped sections 22, 23, and 24 are relatively movable with respect to each other and to the backguard by pulling the knob 27 and thereby the section 22 outwardly 'of the compartment to effect successive movements of the sections 23 and 24 to expand and position the oven assembly above the surface heating element 14.

It will be noted that the section 24 has an outwardly extending peripheral flange 24a at the rear edge thereof adapted to engage stop means in the form of the top, bottomand side edge portions 17a defining the forward openings in the front panel 17; to thus limit movement of the section 24 outwardly of the compartment as shown in 'FIG. 4. The front edge of the section 24 is also provided with an inwardly extending peripheral flange 24b adapted -to engage an outwardly extending peripheral flange 23a .at the rear edge of the section 23, the engagement of the flanges 23a and 24b being effective to limit movement of the section 23 outwardly of the section 24. In like manner, the front edge of the section 23 is provided with an inwardly turned flange23b adapted to engage an outwardly extending flange 22a on the section 22 to limit outward movement of the section 22 relative to the section 23.

Accordingly, when the knob of the latch 27 is pulled, the sections 22, 23, and 24 will move relative to each other and to the compartment of the backguard from the position shown in FIG. 3 to that shown in FIG. 4, where it will be noted that the expanded oven assembly is positioned above the surface heater element 14 the surface heater element 14 engaging the bottom wall of the section 24 and the temperature control device 15 engaging the bottom wall of the section 23.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a pair of racks 28 and 29 are positioned within the telescoped sections 22, 23 and 24 of the oven assembly. Prior to withdrawing the oven assembly from the storage compartment within the backguard of the range, the racks 28 and 29 are removed and, after the oven assembly has been expanded and positioned above the surface heater as shown in FIG. 4, the racks may be positioned on supports in the oven assembly. As shown in FIG. 5, the rack supports comprise vertically spaced pairs of nested hollow ribs 220, 23c and 24c respectively formed in and extending along the side walls of the sections 22, 23, and 24 so that, when the oven assembly is positioned above the heating element 14, the racks will be positioned on the top surfaces of the ribs as shown in FIG. 4. This nested hollow rib structure is also advantageous to provide means for facilitating relative movement of the sections and for supporting the section 22 on the section 23 and the sections 22 and 23 on the section 24 positioned on the heating element 14.

Referring now to a modification of the invention illustrated by FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the auxiliary oven is generally identified by the reference numeral 30 and is provided with a storage compartment within the range backguard 31. The backguard 31 comprises merging top and front panels 32 and 33 and a bottom wall 34 provided by an extension of the range top 35 in which is supported the surface heater element 14a and the temperature control device 1511. The oven storage compartment in the backguard is provided by portions of the backguard top and front panels 32 and 33 and the bottom wall 34, and a pair of side walls 36, 37 in the backguard, the front panel having a square or rectangular opening 33a therein for movement of the oven assembly 30 into and out of the backguard.

The oven comprises a plurality of walled sections 39, 40, and 41, in collapsible or telescopable relation and movable relative to each other and the backguard from the storage position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to an expanded operative position above the surface heater 14a as shown in FIG. 8. More particularly, and referring to FIG. 8 the section 41 comprises a top wall 41a, spaced side walls 41b and a rear wall 410, and the section 40 has spaced side walls 40b and a rear wall 400; and the section 39 is pan-shaped in appearance having a bottom wall 39a, spaced side Walls 3%, and front and rear walls 390, the side walls having projecting tabs 42 pivotally connected as at 43 to the side walls of the backguard compartment to permit pivotal movement of the telescoped oven assembly sections from their storage position in the backguard compartment and outwardly and downwardly to a position above the surface heater 14a with the bottom wall of the section 39 engaging the surface heater. A movable wall or door D is hinged to the front edge of the top Wall 41a of the section 41 to close the front access opening of the oven assembly. To permit the described pivotal movement 'of the telescoped ,oven assembly outwardly of the storage compartment of the backguard, a portion 44 of the top and front walls of the backguard, closing the upper end of the compartment, is hinged as at 45 to the side Walls 36 and 37 of the oven compartment so that the closure portion 44 may be lifted upwardly to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 7 to provide ample clearance for the oven assembly in its movement from its storage position to a position above the heater 14a as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7.

When the telescoped oven assembly has been positioned on the surface heater 14a, the section 41 may be manually moved upwardly for engagement of a flange 41a on the bottom edges of the side and rear walls of the section 41 with the flange 4% of the section 4% to move the section 443 upwardly until its inwardly turned flange 40b engages the outwardly turned flange 39a on the section 39 to thereby expand the oven assembly as shown in FIG. 8. To maintain the respective sections 40 and 41 in their upwardly raised positions, latch devices are provided exteriorly of the side walls of the sections 39 and 40, one of these latch devices being shown in FIG. 9 in the form of a leaf spring 46 having one end firmly secured, as at 47, to one of the side walls of the section 39, with the spring 46 extending at an angle to the side wall for engagement of its free end with the bottom edge of a side wall of the section 40 for holding and retaining the section 40 in the position shown in FIG. 8. When it is desired to collapse the oven assembly and to move the telescoped sections for storage in the backguard compartment, the wall or door D is moved about its pivot to overlie the top wall of the section 41, and the leaf springs 46 are then moved inwardly toward the adjacent side walls of sections 39 and 44 to engage the side walls and for entry into notches 48 in the flanges 40b and 41a of the sections 40 and 41 to permit section 4-0 to move downwardly in telescoping relation to the section 39, and section 41 to telescope with the section 40. It all be apparent that the closure portion 44 may then be raised to permit entry of the telescoped sections into the storage compartment by pivotal movement of the sections upwardly and rearwardly.

It will be noted from an inspection of FIG. 8 that a pair of racks 49 and 5t) are disposed in the backguard compartment, the rack 49 having its edge engaged with the upper surface of the flange 39a of the section 39 and the rack 50 having its edge engaging the upper surface of the flange 40a of the section 40. The racks are removed from the oven assembly, prior to movement of the assembly into the storage compartment, and, after storage, may be positioned within the collapsed oven assembly as shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIGS. and 11 illustrating another modification of the invention, and particularly to FIG. 11, the oven assembly 51 includes a plurality of telescopic sections 52, 53 and 54 with each of the sections comprising two side walls and a rear wall. The oven assembly has a top wall provided by a wall 54a of the section 54, and also a bottom wall engaging the heating element 14b and the temperature control device b and provided by a wall 52a of the section 52. The section 54 has the lower side and rear wall edges provided with an inwardly extending flange 54b underlying and engaging an outwardly extending flange 53a on the upper edges of the side and rear walls of the section 53, and the section 53 also has an inwardly extending flange 53b engaging an outwardly extending flange 52a of the section 52 to limit upward expanding movement of the oven assembly. The side walls of the sections 52 and 53 having latch devices as previously described with respect to the oven assembly shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, inclusive, for maintaining the sections 52 and 53 in the positions shown in FIG. 11. The sections have their open front ends defining the access opening of the open assembly which is closed by a door 55 hinged as at 56 to the front edge of the wall 54a of the section 54. As shown in FIG. 11, the backguard storage compartment is similar to that previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, but differs therefrom by the provision of grooved guide tracks 58 in the two side walls 57 of the compartment, each track having in horizontal portion adjacent the top wall of the backguard and merging with a downwardly extending portion. A pair of pins 59 are disposed in the tracks 58 and are fixed to parallel tabs 60 projecting outwardly from the bottom of the rear wall of the section 52 for pivotal movement of the oven assembly with respect to the storage compartment. More particularly and referring to FIG. 10 illustrating the oven assembly in the storage compartment, the pins 59 are disposed at the upper ends of the tracks 58. To effect movement of the oven assembly from its storage position to its operative position above the surface heater, the wall 54a of the section 54 is provided with a handle H which may be used to move the oven assembly outwardly and downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 11. During this movement of the assembly, the pins travel along the tracks to permit movement of the oven assembly outwardly of the storage compartment to the dotted line position in FIG. 10 and then downwardly to the dotted line position in FIG. 10 in which the assembly is positioned above and in engagement with the surface heater. The collapsed oven assembly may then be expanded by employing the handle H to move the sections 54 and 53 upwardly relative to each other and to the section 52 until the flanges of the section 53 engage the flanges on the sections 52 and 54 as shown in FIG. 11. Latch devices 61, 61, similar to those previously described and illustrated in FIG. 9, may be employed to hold the sections 53 and 54 in the positions shown in FIG. 11.

A pair of racks 62, 63 are positioned within the oven assembly, as shown in FIG. 10, and may be removed therefrom, prior to movement of the oven assembly from its position shown in FIG. 10 to that shown in FIG. 11, the racks being subsequently disposed on the flanges 53a and 52a of the section 53 and 52.

In the operation of removal of the oven assembly from the surface heater to its storage position in the backguard compartment, the oven door is raised to remove the racks. The door is then swung inwardly while the latch devices 61, 61 are operated to permit relative telescoping movement of the sections 52, 53, 54. The collapsed oven assembly can then be rotated to cause upward movement of the pins 59 in the tracks 58 which effect movement of the oven assembly into the storage compartment as shown in FIG. 10. Prior to the completion of this storage movement of the oven assembly, the racks may be positioned within the compartment between the door and the bottom wall of the assembly.

FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 illustrate another modification of the invention in which the range backguard 64 is provided with a compartment having an opening in the front panel 65 of the backguard through which the oven assembly 67 may be moved into and out of the backguard compartment. In FIGS. 12 and 13, the oven assembly is shown in its expanded position and disposed above and in engagement with the surface heater 140. The oven assembly comprises the telescopic sections 68, 69, and 70 which in their telescoped position, as shown in FIG. 14, are open at their front ends to contain an oven door assembly 66. As seen in FIGS. 14 and 12, the oven assembly has the section 68 provided with a hinge connection to the side walls of the oven compartment for pivotal movement of the oven assembly outwardly from the storage position in the compartment to the position shown in FIG. 14. It will be noted that the section 68 has the largest area of the oven assembly sections, and the oven section 69 has a greater area than the section 70 so that, upon movement of the oven assembly by the knob K outwardly of the compartment to the positions shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 12, the sections 69 and 70 will be moved downwardly with respect to the section 68 to assume the expanded oven assembly condition, shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, with the wall 70a of the section 70 being positioned above the surface heater 140. As in the previous embodiments, the section 69 is provided with flanges designated at 69a and 6% respectively engaging flanges 68a and 70a of the sections 68 and '70.

It will be noted from a consideration of FIGS. 12 and its bottom edge 75 with the wall 70a of the section 70 to maintain the oven assembly in its expanded condition as shown in FIG. 12. 'The door panelf71j'is provid ed at its lower end a flexible @spring catch or latch 7 6 'fo r 'willbe noted that, upon movement of the oven assembly from its FIG. 12 position to its storage p ositiom ew door panel 71 is'pr'ovided with anv inwardlyprojecting';

tab 78 adapted to engage the frame "72 to cause movement of the frame when the door panel 71 is moved inwardly of the oven assembly so that the sections 69'and 70 may be moved upwardly relative to the section 68 to telescope these sections to the positions shown in FIG. 14 whereupon the collapsed oven assembly may be pivoted engaging an inwardlyfturned flange 77 .of the section 70' for maintaining thedoor panel 71 in closed position. It

about the hinge connection to the backguard for movement of the .oven assembly into storage positionwithin the backguard. V The oven assembly is provided with a pair of racks 79, 80 which may be respectively seated on the flanges 69a and 70a of the sections 69 and 70 when the oven assembly is in its expanded operative position above the surface heater. If desired, the oven assembly may have an electric heating coil 81 secured to the wall 68b of the section 68 to permit browning of the contents of the oven, the coil having leads 82 connected to a suitable source of electric current for heating purposes.

' FIGS. to 18, inclusive, illustrate another modification of an auxiliary oven, the oven assembly being generally designated '83 and comprising a plurality'of relatively movable wall and door sections in'the formtof panels suitably hinged together and adapted to beifoldd with respect to eachother to assume the storage position in the backguard compartment as shown in FIGS. 1-5 and 18 and, upon withdrawal of the oven assembly from the storage compartment, to unfold intothe 'expanded oven assembly position shown in FIGS. 16 and '17jaliove 'a surface burner 14d atthe top of the range. The range backguard 84 comprises a compartment provided by a top wall 85, side walls 86, and a back wall 87. The- 'backguard also includes a front panel 88 having anyopenling therein permitting storage'movement of theioven assembly into the compartment in the backguard and also movement of the oven assembly therefrom to an expanded position above the surface heater 14d of the range.

Referring to the oven assembly in its expanded position as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the oven assembly comprises two side Wall sections 89, 90, a top wall section 91, a bottom wall section 92, and a wall section 93 providing the oven door. As seen in FIGS. 16 and 17, the side wall sections 89 and 90 are provided at their bottom edges with inwardly turned flanges 89a and 90a which are positioned above and engage the bottom wall section 92 to provide supports for the wall sections 89, 90, 91, 92 on the bottom wall section 92. The door 93 is hinged at 94 at its upper end to the edge of the top wall section 91 and hangs downwardly therefrom to cover the access opening of the oven assembly.

Referring to FIG. 16 and FIG. 18 illustrating the oven assembly in collapsed position and stored within the storage compartment in the backguard of the range, it will be seen that the bottom wall section 92 is pivotally connected as at 95 to the side walls 86 of the backguard compartment; the top wall section 91 is hinged as at 96 to a portion of the front panel 88 of the backguard defining the top of the opening of the storage compartment;

the side wall section 90 is hinged -as.at 97- to the Y of the top wall s'ection, 91; and the side' wall section 89 is hinged at98 tofthe side edge of the top wallseotion 91,

The top wall section 91 has downwardly extending side portions91i and 91b havingthebottom edge providing the hinged connections 97 and 98 ;to the top of theside wallsections 89 and.;90,:als ,sh,QWnfi. ,17 and 18. Assuming the ovenfassembly. is in its collapsed folded condition inthe backguard storage compartment, as the handle 99 of the 'top wall section 9.1 is pulled '(FIG. 1 5

the top wall section 91 is pivoted outwardly and upwardly about the hinge connection 96 thereof with the front panel and, as the door. wall section '93 is.hinged at 94; to the jfront e dg'e of the top wall section 91, the wall section 93 will; i nbve ,optwardly. and downwardly to .the position shownin FlG. l6; and, asthe side .wall sections 89 and 90 are hirigedly connected at 93 and.97 to the top walls'ection '91'ofth'e (assembly, these side wall sections will be folded :outwardly downwardly to provide the sides of the oven be caused to move aboutits hinged pivotal connection 95 assembly; and thereafter, the bottom wall section'92 will to the side .wa1ls89 alnd' 90 .of :the-backguard compartment to pro ide the bottom of theassembly withthe inwardly 'extendingflanges 89q'and 98g of the side wall sections positioned on the lateral edges of thebottom wall section.

'ihe bottom wall section thus positioned and supports the ;oven assembly on the range surface heater. The racks 9 9 and 10Qmay then beremoved from the loven for positioning upon loop supports'lill, 102 provided by punched out inwardly expanded metal strips of the side wall sections The racks having do wnwardly projecting pin fportions ltls received within the loop supports 1 01 and 102 serving tdnotonly retain the racks on the supports but to firmly hold the expanded oven assembly wah'sections 89,

90, 91, in fixed position;

g The' oven assembly maybe readily collapsed from its FIGS. "16"and' 17 expanded condition for storage in the backguard compartment by folding the various wall sections in a-r'riariner now to be described. The oven door section 93 is raised to remove the racks from the supports 101 and 102 of the side wall sections of the oven and the racks are positioned within thecompartment of the backguard as shown in FIG. 15 Thereafter, the side wall sections 89 and 90 are moved ontwardly' away from their 'errgag'ement'with the bottom wall section 92 to permit the bottom wall section to be 'moved upwardly and into the position shown in FIG. l5. The door section 93 is then moved inwardly to a position engaging the top wall sec- Ption 91 and then the side wall sections are moved about their'hingedieonnections 98 and 97 to the top wall section andinto the position shown in FIGS. 15 and 18. Subsequent-1y, the folded top, side wall and door sections may be moved about the hingedconnection 96 of the wall section 91'to the backguard front panel to store the oven assembly within the backguard as shown in FIG. 15.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the various modifications of the invention that the oven assemblies may be readily collapsed eitherby telescoping or folding the various oven assembly sections -for storage in the backguar'd of a range and be readily assembled to an op- .vided with temperature controls for the surface heater units.

While I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not wish to 'be limited to the precise details and construction of the various embodiments set forth, but'wish to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heating appliance of the type including a main cabinet body portion defined in part by a top wall having openings through which heating elements are presented, means defining a vertically extending hollow backguard housing disposed at the rear of said top wall and placed rearwardly from said heating elements, said backguard being particularly characterized by being formed to provide a storage compartment therein in generally juxtaposed position to one of said heating elements and including means defining a forwardly facing access opening, the combination therewith of means defining an auxiliary collapsible and extendable oven cabinet adapted to be stored within said backguard storage compartment when collapsed and withdrawable therefrom through said opening to a position above said juxtaposed heating element and in supporting relation thereto, said oven cabinet being made up of a plurality of relatively movable walls, said arrangement being further particularly characterized by one of said walls functioning when said oven is collapsed and stored within said compartment to close said storage compartment opening and means for limiting the extent of movement of said oven relative to said storage compartment.

2. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion having a main oven, said body portion being provided with a stationary heater in its top surface; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top surface of said main body portion and having a storage compartment adjacent and facing toward said heater; a temperature responsive control means positioned Within said heater for regulating same; and an auxiliary oven cabinet assembly positioned above and in engagement with said heater and said temperature control means for supporting said cabinet assembly on said heater, said temperature control means being actuated by said cabinet in engagement therewith, said cabinet being collapsible to compact the assembly for storage within said compartment.

3. In a heating appliance of the type including a main base cabinet body portion having a top wall defining an upper horizontal surface with openings exposing heating elements, a main oven in said main base cabinet below said heating elements, and a vertically extending backguard located to the rear of said heating elements, and having spaced front and back walls, said backguard being particularly characterized by the provision therein of a storage compartment in juxtaposed relation to and having a forward opening facing one of said heating elements, the combination therewith of means defining an auxiliary collapsible oven assembly adapted to have two positions, a first position in which it is collapsed to condense the space required and received within said storage compartment and a second position in which it is withdrawn and expanded for use as an oven, said oven being composed of a plurality of relatively movable walls, one of said walls, when withdrawn, resting upon and sup ported by said heating elements, said arrangement being further particularly characterized by said one of said walls being effective when said oven is in collapsed stored condition within said storage compartment to act as a closure for said access opening to said storage compartment, said oven wall presenting a substantial continuation of said front wall of said backguard.

4. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion having a main oven, said body portion being provided with a stationary heater in its top surface; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above the top surface of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein facing toward said heater, and an auxiliary oven cabinet assembly positioned above said heater and including relatively movable sections collapsible to compact the assembly for storage within said com partment; and means within said compartment and cooperating with and limiting movement of at least one of said sections during relative movement of said sections out of said compartment to expand said assembly for positioning the assembly above and in engagement with said heater for supporting said cabinet on said heater.

5. In a range of the type comprising a main base cabinet portion defined in part by a top wall with an opening formed therein through which extends a stationary heating element means defining a backguard housing extending vertically above the top of said main cabinet portion, and also extending substantially the width of said main cabinet, said backguard comprised in part of a rear vertically extending Wall, a front vertically extending wall spaced forwardly from said rear wall, side, bottom and top walls providing a storage compartment, means defining a front access opening formed in said front vertical wall opposite said heating element but spaced therefrom, the combination therewith of means defining a collapsible and extendible oven cabinet assembly adapted to be selectively collapsed and stored within said storage compartment and withdrawn therefrom through said opening to position said oven cabinet above and in supporting engagement with said heating elements, said means defining said oven cabinet being particularly characterized by the inclusion of a wall, said wall functioning to close said opening in said backguard when said oven is in collapsed stored position, said wall being in a substantially flush relation with said front vertical panel to form a continuation of said panel.

6. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top'with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly including telescoping sections relatively movable to compact the oven assembly and position the oven assembly within said compartment; and means within said compartment and cooperating with at least one of said sections to expand said oven assembly during withdrawal of said assembly from said compartment and to position said assembly above said heater.

7. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly including horizontally telescoped sections positioned within said compartment and movable relative to each other outwardly of said compartment to expand said assembly and to position said assembly above said heater.

8. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly within said compartment and including a plurality of hollow sections in horizontal telescoping relation, the inner section having an oven access door pivotally connected thereto, said sections being horizontally movable relative to each other and said compartment to position said oven assembly above said heater, and stop means on said sections for limiting relative movement of said sections when said oven assembly is positioned above said heater.

9. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly within said compartment and including a plurality of hollow sections in horizontal telescoping relation, the inner section having an oven access door pivotally connected thereto, said sections being horizontally movable relative to each other and said compartment to expand said oven assembly and position said oven assembly above said heater, stop means on said sections for limiting relative movement of said sections when said oven assembly is positioned above said heater and means slidably connecting the sides of said sections for relative telescoping movement.

10. A heating appliance comprising a main' body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top'of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly within said compartment and including a plurality of hollow sections in horizontal telescoping relation, the inner section having an oven access door pivotally connected thereto, said sections being horizontally movable relative to each other and said compartment to expand said oven assembly and position said oven assembly above said heater, stop means on said sections for limiting relative movement of said sections when said oven assembly is positioned above said heater, and means slidably connecting the sides of said sections for relative telescoping movement and extending within said expanded oven assembly for supporting a rack within said oven assembly.

11. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; 2. backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly within said compartment and including a plurality of hollow sections in horizontal telescoping relation, the inner section having an oven access door pivotally connected thereto, said sections being horizontally movable relative to each other and said compartment to expand said oven assembly and position said oven assembly above said heater, stop means on said sections for limiting relative movement of said sections when said oven assembly is positioned above said heater and the side walls of said telescoping sections having hollow nested ribs slidably connecting the sides of said sections for relative telescoping movement and extending within said expanded oven assembly for supporting a rack within said oven assembly.

12. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion having a main oven, said body portion being provided with a stationary heater in its top surface; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top surface of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein facing toward said heater; an auxiliary oven cabinet assembly positioned within said compartment; and means pivotally connecting said assembly and said compartment for movement of said assembly outwardly of said compartment and to position said oven cabinet assembly above and in engagement with said heater for supporting said cabinet on said heater.

13. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion having a main oven, said body portion being provided with a stationary heater in its top surface; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top surface of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein facing toward said heater; an auxiliary oven cabinet assembly including a plurality of telescoped sections within said compartment; and means pivotally connecting said cabinet assembly to said compartment for movement outwardly of said compartment and for movement of said sections relative to each other to expand said oven assembly and to position said oven cabinet assembly in operative position above and in engament with said heater.

14. A heating applinace comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top .of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly including a plurality of telescoped sections within said compartment, the outermost section being pivotally connected to the compartment for movement of the oven assembly outwardly and upwardly of the compartment and to thereby move the other sections downwardly relative to one another and to position said oven assembly above said heater.

15. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the

top of said main body portion and having a storage com-' partment therein; and an oven assembly including a plurality of telescoped sections within said compartment, the outer section being pivotally connected to the compartment for movement of the oven assembly outwardly and upwardly of the compartment and to thereby move the other sections downwardly relative to one another and to position said oven assembly above said heater, and means for limiting relative movement of said sections relative to each other and providing supports for racks in said oven assembly.

16. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment having the side walls thereof provided with parallel guide slots each extending horizontally of the top of a side wall and downwardly of the side wall; and an oven assembly including a plurality of telescoped sections within said compartment, the innermost section having laterally projecting guide pins extending within said guide slots and movable along said slots during movement of said assembly outwardly of said compartment and movement of said innermost section to a position above said heater, thereafter the other sections being movable upwardly relative to each'other and said innermost section to position said sections in vertical aligmnent to expand said oven assembly, and means for releasably holding said sections in their vertically aligned positions. 17. 'A heating appliance comprising a main body portion prowded at its top with a surface heater, a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment having the side walls thereof provided with parallel guide slots each extending horizontally of the top of a side wall and downwardly of the side wall; and an oven assembly including a plurality of telescoped sections within said compartment, the innermost section having laterally projecting guide pin-s extending Within said guide slots and movable along said slots during movement of said assembly outwardly of said compartment and movement of said innermost section to a position above said heater, thereafter the other sections being movable upward-1y relative to each other and said innermost section to position said section in vertical alignment to expand said oven assembly, and means :for releasably holding said sections in their vertically aligned positions, means for limiting upward relative movement of said other sections, and means cooperating with said limiting means for releasably holding said sections in their vertically aligned positions.

18. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a back- =guard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly including a plurality of telescoped sections positioned within said compartment; means pivotally connecting the innermost section of said telescoped sections to said compartment for movement of said assembly outwardly of said compartment and to position said innermost section of said oven assembly above said heater, the other sections of said assernibly being upwardly movable relative to each other to position said sections in vertical alignment to expand said oven assembly, and means for releasably holding said sections in their vertically aligned positions.

19. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly including a plurality of telescoped sections positioned within said compartment, means pivotally connecting the innermost section of said telescoped sections to said compartment for movement of said assembly outwardly of said compartment and to position said innermost section of said oven assembly above said heater, the other sections of said assembly being upwardly movable relative to each other to position said sections in vertical alignment to expand said oven assembly. means for limiting upward relative movement of said other sections, and means cooperating with said limiting means for releasably holding said sections in their vertically aligned positions.

20. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein adjacent said surface heater; and an oven assembly above said surface heater and including relatively movable top, bottom, side wall and door sections foldable to compact the oven assembly for storage within said compartment.

21. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment adjacent said surface heater, said compartment being partly defined by a front wall with an access opening, and side walls; and an oven assembly positioned within said compartment and including top, side and bottom wall and door sections extending vertically and parallel to each other, said top wall section being pivotally connected to said compartment front wall above the access opening therein, and said bottom wall section being pivotally connected to said compartment side walls, said side wall and door sections being pivotally connected to said top wall section whereby, pivotal movement of said top wall section outwardly of said compartment is effective to move said other sections into position to expand the assembly and to position the assembly over said heater.

22. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly including a plurality of telescoped sections within said compartment, the outermost section being pivotally connected to the compartment for movement of the oven assembly outwardly and upwardly of the compartment and to thereby move the other sections downwardly relative to one another to dispose said sections in vertical alignment to provide an expanded oven assembly and to position said expanded oven assembly above said heater, a frame pivotally connected to said outermost section for movement into vertical position within said vertically aligned telescoping sections and engaging the bottom of said sections to hold said sections in vertical alignment, said frame defining an oven access opening, and a door pivotally connected to one of said sections and closing said oven access opening.

23. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of sad main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly including a plurality of telescoped sections within said compartment, the outer section being pivotally connected to the compartment for movement of the oven assembly outwardly and upwardly of the compartment and to thereby move the other sections downwardly relative to one another to dispose said sections in vertical alignment to provide an expanded oven assembly and to position said expanded oven assembly above said heater, means for limiting relative movement of said sections relative to each other and providing supports for racks in said oven assembly, a frame pivotally connected to said outermost section for movement into vertical position within said vertically aligned telescoping sections and engaging the bottom of said sections to hold said sections in vertical alignment, said frame defining an oven access opening and a door pivotally connected to one of said sections and closing said oven access opening.

24. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment therein; and an oven assembly including a plurality of telescoped sections within said compartment, the outermost section being pivotally connected to the compartment for movement of the oven asesmbly outwardly and upwardly of the compartment and to thereby move the other sections downwardly relative to one another to dispose said sections in vertical alignment to provide an expanded oven assembly and to position said expanded oven assembly above said heater, a frame pivotally connected to said outermost section for movement into vertical position within said vertically aligned telescoping sections-and engaging the bottom of said sections to hold said sections in vertical alignment, said frame defining an oven access opening, a door pivotally connected to said outermost section and closing said oven access opening, said frame and door having a common pivotal connection to said outermost section, cooperating latch means on said frame and door for releasably retaining said door in closed position, and means on said door and engageable with said frame during inward movement of said door about said pivotal connection to move said frame inwardly of said oven asesmbly with said door and into said outermost section to permit vertical upward telescoping movement of said other sections into said outermost section to collapse the oven assembly and subsequent movement of the collapsed oven assembly about the pivotal connection of said outermost section and compartment into said compartment.

25. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment adjacent said surface heater, said compartment being partly defined by a front wall with an access opening, and side walls; and an oven assembly positioned within said compartment and including top, side and bottom wall and door sections extending vertically and parallel to each other, said top Wall section being pivotally connected to said compartment front wall above the access opening therein, and said bottom wall section being pivotally connected to said compartment side walls, said side Wall and door sections being pivotally connected to said top wall section whereby, pivotal movement of said top wall section outwardly of said compartment is effective to move said other sections into position to expand the assembly and to position the assembly over said heater, each of said side wall sections having inwardly directed bottom edge flanges engaging the lateral edge of said bot tom wall to support said top and side wall sections and said door section of the expanded oven assembly on said bottom wall section, said side wall sections further having inwardly disposed and facing portions with openings therein; and a rack within said expanded oven assembly and supported on said side wall portions and having downwardly projecting pins extending into said openings in said side wall portions for holding and maintaining said oven assembly in expanded position.

26. A heating appliance comprising a main body portion provided at its top with a surface heater; a backguard disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top of said main body portion and having a storage compartment adjacent said surface heater, said compartment being partly defined by a front wall with an access opening, and side walls; and oven assembly positioned within said compartment and including top, side and bottom wall and door sections extending vertically and parallel to each other, said top wall section being pivotally connected to said compartment front Wall above the access opening therein, and said bottom wall section being pivotally connected to said compartment side Walls, said side wall and door sections being pivotally connected to said top wall section whereby, pivotal movement of said top Wall section outwardly of said compartment is effective to move saidother sections into position to expand" the assembly and to position the assembly over said heater; said side wall sections further having inwardly disposed and facing portions with openings therein; and a rack within said expanded oven assembly and supported on said side wall portions and having downwardly projecting pins extending into said openings in said side wall portions for holding and maintaining said oven assembly in expanded position.

27. In a heating appliance of the type including a main cabinet body portion defined in part by a top wall having openings through which heating elements are presented, means defining a vertically extending hollow backguard housing disposed at the rear of said top wall and placed rearwardly from said heating elements, said backguard being particularly characterized by being formed to provide a storage compartment therein in generally juxta- 16 made up of a plurality of relatively movable walls, said arrangement being further particularly characterized by one of said walls functioning when said oven is collapsed and stored within said compartment to close said storage compartment opening and means for limiting the extent of movement of said oven relative to said storage compartment, said last named means including means carried by one of said oven walls engageable with said access opening defining means to thus limit the extent of withdrawal of said auxiliary oven cabinet from said storage compartment in said backguard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,456,474 Sussman May 22, 1923 1,647,210 Bryans Nov. 1, 1927 2,021,651 Gutmann Nov. 19, 1935 2,060,339 Normand Nov. 10, 1936 2,763,395 Meek Sept. 18, 1956 2,872,557 Thrasher Feb. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 145,922 Austria May 25, 1936 956,643 France Aug. 15, 1949 

